‘Don’t get an education for the sake of a degree; learn your lessons by heart’

Noted nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Fakhar-e-Pakistan, has urged students to gain knowledge by learning it by heart and not for the sake of getting degrees.

He advised the youth to realise the importance of education, and to realise that they will not be able to accomplish anything in their lives without an education. He warned that there is no future for the people who ignore education.

Dr Khan made these remarks as the chief guest on the final day of a four-day 5th Dr AQ Khan Winter School Workshop that was held at the Jinnah Auditorium of the University of Karachi’s Dr AQ Khan Institute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (KIBGE).

“Rather than spending five years in universities to get degrees and cram in the syllabus, students should work hard, and besides learning the theories, they should spend sufficient time in laboratories to learn how to operate different tools,” said Dr Khan.

He said that students should also focus on conducting valuable research, and learn from the experiences of their teachers, class fellows and seniors. He added that the KIBGE is providing all necessary facilities required for conducting quality research, and its labs are equipped with modern tools and technologies.

Dr Khan said that he always takes pleasure in seeing faces of young researchers and scholars at the KIBGE. He said people frequently used to ask him to do something for Karachi and its youth, so he built the institute that is providing the highest standard of education in the entire country.

He advised the students that after completing their MPhil from the KIBGE, they should go abroad and take an admission in a PhD programme, and those who have done their PhDs must complete their post-doctorate from foreign universities, and then return to Pakistan to serve their beloved motherland.

Dr Khan suggested that young researchers and scholars gain knowledge and information from the experienced faculty of the KIBGE and use what they have learned from this institute in their practical lives so that the country can benefit from them. He also advised researchers to equip themselves with the latest information and seek perfection in their research.

KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said the university has given admissions to over 10,000 students this year in different programmes being run in morning and evening shifts.

He said KU has more than 19 institutes and research centres in the campus, including the KIBGE, and they are contributing a lot in promoting the research culture in the academia. He added that students and young researchers are quite lucky to get an admission in the university.

Dr Iraqi congratulated the researchers on the completion of their workshop and said that he hoped students have taken advantage by interacting with seasoned trainers and by doing on-hand work in the labs that are equipped with the latest tools and technologies.

He advised them to share what they have learned from the workshop with others and keep participating in such programmes. He mentioned that these events provide a lot of facilities under one roof and also give a chance of networking with field professionals.

Earlier, KIBGE Director General Prof Dr Abid Azhar shared that this institute provides equal opportunity to students across the country, and the whole faculty is so proud that their students are performing extraordinarily around the world.

National Centre for Proteomics Director Prof Dr Shamshad Zarina emphasised the dire need for such workshops, as these events are significant for the practical and scientific training of students. She applauded the syndicate’s decision of naming the centre after former KU VC and scientist Dr Zafar H Zaidi.

On the occasion, Dr Iraqi also distributed certificates among the participants. Later, computerised draws for Umrah and Hajj were conducted by Dr Khan, selecting Ghulam Fareed Gabool for Hajj, and Muhammad Hussain and Dr Sitwat Zehra for Umrah.